Pasta Fraud Results in $5M Cash Settlement Fund

WAYNE, Pa. (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The following is being released by Kinsella Media, notice provider for the Dreamfields Pasta Settlement.

A Settlement of two class actions has been reached with Dakota Growers, the maker of Dreamfields Pasta. The lawsuits claim advertisements and packaging for Dreamfields Pasta are misleading. Dakota Growers denies these claims.

The Settlement includes anyone who purchased Dreamfields Pasta with a label that referred to "glycemic index" or "digestible carbs," in the United States between February 2004 and July 1, 2014.

What Consumers Who Are Members of the Class Can Get:

A $5,000,000 cash settlement fund will be established and will provide the following benefits to consumers:

Online Purchases: Consumers who purchased Dreamfields pasta online, and received a Settlement notice by email, will receive an automatic payment of $1.99 per box. There is no limit on the number of boxes purchased.

Purchases Made in the Store: Consumers who purchased Dreamfields pasta in a store can file a claim to receive $1.99 for each box (up to 15 boxes per household). Claims must be filed by September 1, 2014.

In addition to paying consumers, the Settlement will also be used to pay for notice and administration costs. Any money left after all claims and costs have been paid will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Other Benefits From the Settlement: Dakota Growers agrees to change its packaging and remove statements referring to "glycemic index" or "digestible carbs" from the packaging of Dreamfields Pasta for one year.

Important Dates:

Consumers who do not want to be included in the Settlement or want to keep the right to sue Dakota Growers must exclude themselves by September 1, 2014.

Consumers who do nothing and made their purchases in a store will not get a payment and will give up the right to sue Dakota Growers.

Consumers who stay in the Settlement may object to it by September 1, 2014, but will give up the right to individually sue Dakota Growers about the claims in these cases.

Consumers who want to file a claim must file by September 1, 2014.

The Court will hold a hearing on September 24, 2014 to consider whether to approve the Settlement, and a request for attorneys' fees and expenses up to $2,920,000, which would include an incentive award for the five plaintiffs named in the lawsuits in an amount not to exceed $20,000 in total. The attorneys' fees, expenses, and incentive award will be paid separately by Dakota Growers and will not reduce payments to Class Members. You or your own lawyer may appear at the hearing at your own expense.